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The scheme has already been introduced in Japan, India and Brazil and is back on the table amid a climate of growing concern about sexual harassment on public transport.

Earlier this year, Transport for London launched a campaign to encourage more reporting of sex crimes on the capital’s Underground network.

Launching his street harassment policy, Mr Corbyn said: “Some women have raised with me that a solution to the rise in assault and harassment on public transport could be to introduce women-only carriages.

“My intention would be to make public transport safer for everyone from the train platform, to the bus stop, on the mode of transport itself.

“However, I would consult with women and open it up to hear their views on whether women-only carriages would be welcome – and also if piloting this at times and on modes of transport where harassment is reported most frequently would be of interest.”

He went on: “The excellent work of individuals, campaigns, and groups like Everyday Sexism and Stop Street Harassment has highlighted just how prevalent street harassment is in our country today; and the extent to which many women feel uncomfortable, anxious, and unsafe just going about their daily routines.

“It is simply unacceptable that many women and girls adapt their daily lives in order to avoid being harassed on the street, public transport and in other public places from the park to the supermarket.

“This could include taking longer routes to work, having self-imposed curfews, or avoiding certain means of transport.”

Transport minister Claire Perry told the 2014 Tory Conference in Birmingham that she was open to ideas that boosted safety.

“They have introduced women-only seating in Japan because there is a particular problem with groping and low-level violence,” she said.

“It is a very interesting question and I will look at all ideas.”

A total of 1,117 sexual offences were recorded by British Transport Police in the year to March 2014 – a rise of more than 20 per cent.

Ms Perry said she was meeting with officers to discuss the reasons – noting it could be down to more people reporting incidents in the wake of the Jimmy Savile and other scandals.

“How terrifying to be travelling home in a place where I should reasonably expect to be safe and to be the victim of a sexual crime,” she told a fringe event.

“It’s frightening to think you are going home, taking public transport because you don’t want to drive, you’ve had a drink, and you’re not safe.

“This is a very small number but even a thousand is too many.”

“I am absolutely determined that, on my watch, that will change.

“Whatever we have to do.

“We have to have an expectation of safety on our public transport.”

Ms Perry also said she had looked at “wacky” ideas such as banning repeat offenders from public transport.

Stressing that was a personal view, she said: “I’ve come up with some wacky ideas like ‘three strikes and you’re off’ – which is my idea rather than departmental policy.

“There are horrible implications for people who might then have trouble finding work and rehabilitating themselves.”